"Since when did you become so petty?" he snapped. "Why are you holding a grudge against a child?"
My hand paused mid-air before I steadied myself. Calmly, I extended the medical report toward him.
"I need to tell you something." My voice held nothing. "Our son is sick. It's serious. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia."
I watched the color drain from his face.
"If we don't find a matching bone marrow donor immediately... he won't make it."
Justin stood frozen. His hands trembled as he took the thin sheets of paper, eyes scanning the diagnosis with growing horror.
"I'll make the calls," he stammered, voice thick. "I'll use every connection I have. We will find a match. Soon."
A breath I didn't know I was holding escaped my lips. I nodded. "Good. I'm going to put Carter to bed."
He moved to follow me, his instinct clearly to comfort his son, but Brooklyn was faster. Her hand darted out, pinching Tommy's arm where it was hidden from Justin's view.
"Ow!" Tommy shrieked, tears instantly welling. "I can't sleep! I need Uncle Justin to tell me a story! I can't sleep without him!"